Top o' the World!

We decided to pack up one day early from Central City and make our way down to Colorado Springs for our last night.

First stop, Mt Evans.  What an incredible journey up over 14,000 feet to where you look DOWN on snow-capped mountains.  To my surprise, the ride up was more harrowing to me than the trip down.  As I would approach the left-turn hairpins all I could see is the road ending into nothing but sky.  Freaky!

Storm Trooper Steve

YAY!  I made it!

The mountains just go on forever and you can see the curvature of the Earth and the layers of atmosphere.  Simply stunning.

Yup, that's the road to Mt Evans we were just on!

Another one of our great ideas was to take Tarryall Road on the way to Colorado Springs.  According to our trusty Motorcycling Guide book, it was broken chip seal.  No problem, we thought!  Well, when we pulled onto the road there was a sign about road construction.  OK!  They are fixing the road, that's great!  As it turns out, they don't do road construction in Colorado like they do in Iowa...

The road was great all the way to Stagecoach Saloon, where we stopped for a burger.  The owner told us that we'd reach the construction soon thereafter and that we should hope to catch the pilot car at the right time.  Otherwise we might as well go hang out at the resevoir.  Seriously?

Before reaching any flagman or other signs of construction, we completely lose the pavement.

But, it was still ride-able.

Luckily, we did get to the pilot car at a good time.  She told us she'd be leaving in about 5 minutes and that she would be sure to direct us carefully through the 9.7 miles so we miss the sharp rocks.

Sharp Rocks?!?!?

9.7 Miles?!?!?

Oh boy.  What did we get ourselves into??

Not only were there sharp rocks, but also big trucks and excavators.  The pilot car takes you directly through the construction area!!!  Back in Iowa they bypass the active construction.  Not in Colorado...they are hearty folk!  So, add big ruts and lots of washboard to the 9.7 miles of sharp rocks.  OY! Also add a young kid on a dirt bike that zipped past me.  I bet he thought we were nuts, too!

I think it took us a good 45 minutes to an hour to go a little over 10 miles.  But, we made it through safely, as did our tires!  And let me tell you, that will be a SWEET RIDE when they are finished!!